Playoff Picture: Week 16
AFC:
1st seed: Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
2nd seed: Houston Texans (10-4)
3rd seed: New England Patriots (9-5)
4th seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)
5th seed: Los Angeles Chargers (11-3)
6th seed: Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
Wild Card:
Baltimore @ New England
LA Chargers @ Pittsburgh
Still alive:
Indianapolis (8-6), Tennessee (8-6), Miami (7-7), Cleveland (6-7-1)
Eliminated:
Denver (6-8), Cincinnati (6-8), Buffalo (5-9), Jacksonville (4-10), NY Jets (4-10), Oakland (3-11)
NFC:
1st seed: New Orleans Saints (12-2)
2nd seed: Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
3rd seed: Chicago Bears (10-4)
4th seed: Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
5th seed: Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
6th seed: Minnesota Vikings (7-6-1)
Wild card:
Minnesota @ Chicago
Seattle @ Dallas
Still alive:
Philadelphia (7-7), Washington (7-7), Carolina (6-8)
Eliminated:
Green Bay (5-8-1), Atlanta (5-9), Tampa Bay (5-9), NY Giants (5-9), Detroit (5-9), San Francisco (4-10), Arizona (3-11)
The Kansas City Chiefs and LA Chargers both clinched playoff berths. Two of the six teams in the AFC are in the dance. New Orleans, LA Rams, and Chicago both clinched their divisions assuring that they won't fall below the 4th seed in the playoffs. Maybe not a lot of teams still not in the hunt but there's still seeding to consider.
Secret Santa: What the 32 Teams Will Get This Year
This was something that I did last year as a kind of gag. A gag in that I predicted that what each team would get for the holidays. Like most of my predictions, it won't come true, its more of a joke. Just imagine if there were 32 people getting something for the holidays like a gift.
Arizona Cardinals: A younger version of Larry Fitzgerald.
Atlanta Falcons: Tickets to the Super Bowl since your stadium is hosting it this year but you won't play in it because... well you aren't even in the playoffs.
Baltimore Ravens: You get whatever you get out of a possible Joe Flacco trade. Think of it as a surprise.
Buffalo Bills: You're not in the playoffs this year, but don't feel down. You get snowblowers because of the Buffalo winters. A decent draft pick would be good too.
Carolina Panthers: A defensive unit that won't choke.
Chicago Bears: A DVD collection of past Bears team's not getting to the Super Bowl!
Cincinnati Bengals: Maybe a Marvin Lewis resignation letter, which is a stretch. You'll just get tinker toys.
Cleveland Browns: A better season than what you have had the past two seasons. Six wins is a great gift.
Dallas Cowboys: A GM that will be the mitigator between Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett. You need it, badly.
Denver Broncos: A John Elway-esque quarterback that can throw for more than 200 yards a game.
Detroit Lions: The next Calvin Johnson.
Green Bay Packers: A head coach that knows how to play a balanced offensive game.
Houston Texans: A fighting chance to beat either the Steelers or the Patriots.
Indianapolis Colts: Better offensive linemen
Jacksonville Jaguars: A brand new head coach, or just maybe Tom Coughlin.
Kansas City Chiefs: A playoff win.
Los Angeles Chargers: A chance to go back to San Diego so that I don't have to catch myself twice before saying your name.
Los Angeles Rams: A no-choker label come playoff time.
Miami Dolphins: Shiny reminder that the 1972 Dolphins went undefeated for an entire season. Perhaps a trophy.
Minnesota Vikings: See Los Angeles Rams. Congrats.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady's clone.
New Orleans Saints: Some delicious gumbo and shrimp. You don't need anything special.
New York Giants: Eli Manning's younger self. Like when he used to ball out for 300+ yards.
New York Jets: Signs for the Jets wide receivers to hold that says "Pass to me" or "don't pass to me"
Oakland Raiders: A lump of coal for making me think you were legit championship contenders. I won't forget that.
Philadelphia Eagles: A free pass to boo Santa Claus now that you won a championship last year.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A defensive unit that doesn't shit the bed against sub-par teams.
San Francisco 49ers: A truck to move Levi's Stadium to San Francisco. Santa Clara, really?
Seattle Seahawks: A rebuilding season? A playoff contender? You really don't need anything.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Stability at quarterback.
Tennessee Titans: A Derrick Henry bobblehead.
Washington Redskins: A Dan Snyder resignation letter. Or just some tinker toys.
Cool Video of the Week:
Christmas, a time for giving gifts, eating delicious food, spending time with friends and family. There are people out there in the world that sadly don't get to experience the spirit of the holiday. As you spend time with those you care about, remember of those who are less fortunate and perhaps give a little bit. Here's a video of one of my favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy!
Week 16 Picks!
Week 16 in the NFL's regular season will start in Nashville, Tennessee and ends in Oakland, California. The week will have two Saturday games, nine early games, three late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. No teams will be on a bye week. CBS will have the doubleheader and FOX will have the single, regional game. Let's get to the picks!
Washington (7-7) @ Tennessee (8-6) (NFL Network): TW: Titans, CV: Titans
Both teams got a win last week as the Redskins beat the Jaguars and the Titans beat the Giants. The game will be a showdown between the old, hardy veteran running back in Adrian Peterson to the younger running back in Derrick Henry. I have been doubting the Titans a lot this season, and I feel that this will come down to which running back can give their teams a lift. I trust in you Tennessee
Baltimore (8-6) @ LA Chargers (11-3) (NFL Network): TW: Chargers, CV: Chargers
Both teams got a win last week as the Ravens beat the Buccaneers and the Chargers beat the Chiefs. The game will come down to which side of the ball really controls the game. Whether it will be the Ravens staunch defense or the powerful Charger offensive attack. Time for me to be a little skeptical of Baltimore this week. If they can keep up with the Chargers it will be a possible victory for them.
Jacksonville (4-10) @ Miami (7-7) (CBS): TW: Dolphins, CV: Dolphins
Both teams got losses last week as the Jaguars lost to the Redskins and the Dolphins to the Vikings. The battle for Florida will be intense. Both teams have shown some lackluster play throughout the season. I tend to like the Dolphins in the matchup as they do have some stability at quarterback and good offensive pieces that can sustain drives. I just can't pick the Jaguars again.
Houston (10-4) @ Philadelphia (7-7) (CBS): TW: Texans, CV: Texans
Both teams got a win last week as the Texans beat the Jets and the Eagles beat the Rams. I don't know how to feel about this game. The two teams have had the capability to do good things on offense but on defense, I would certainly say that Houston still has the advantage with JJ Watt on the field. Nick Foles will still be starting. I feel it will depend on how well the Texans run game can get going. I like the Texans on both sides.
Minnesota (7-6-1) @ Detroit (5-9) (FOX): TW: Vikings, CV: Vikings
The Vikings beat the Dolphins and the Lions lost to the Bills last week respectively. The Vikings run game came to play last week and I feel will have a repeat performance. The Vikings will need it to get going against a Lions team that has seen some success in pass defense. As far as the two defenses, I still have the Vikings defense over the edge against the Lions.
Tampa Bay (5-9) @ Dallas (8-6) (FOX): TW: Cowboys, CV: Cowboys
Both teams took losses last week as the Buccaneers lost to the Ravens and the Cowboys to the Colts. I have to feel that the shutout loss against Indy last week will put the Cowboys in a foul mood and will have a rebound game. The Cowboys defense needs to come through in the clutch as well as the Bucs pass offense is pretty good and will need to give their offense a chance to put points on the board.
Green Bay (5-8-1) @ NY Jets (4-10) (FOX): TW: Packers, CV: Jets
Both teams took losses last week as the Packers lost to the Bears and the Jets to the Texans. I feel this is one of the games that the Packers are capable of winning but also prone to losing due to how bad the offense is compared to the past seasons in the Aaron Rodgers era. If the Packers can sustain drives by being balanced and keeping Sam Darnold off-key during the game on defense will be a result in the Packers in a victory.
NY Giants (5-9) @ Indianapolis (8-6) (CBS): TW: Colts, CV: Colts
The Giants lost to the Titans and the Colts beat the Cowboys last week. The game will have two great running games in Saquon Barkley in the Giants and Marlon Mack of the Colts. Barkley didn't quite show up to the game that I had expected him to. It was a relative surprise. I feel the game will come down to how well the rest of the Colts will play. If the Colts defense can get a few stops early it will be a Colt victory.
Cincinnati (6-8) @ Cleveland (6-7-1) (CBS): TW: Browns, CV: Browns
Both teams got a win last week as the Bengals beat the Raiders and the Browns beat the Broncos. The battle for Ohio recommences for the last time this season. The two teams still have some meaning to their seasons. I feel the Browns will win if they can stick to the winning formula and play some tight defense. Keeping Joe Mixon off-key will be huge as he is the Bengals big weapon.
Atlanta (5-9) @ Carolina (6-8) (FOX): TW: Falcons, CV: Falcons
The Falcons beat the Cardinals and the Panthers lost to the Saints last week. The Panthers will be without Cam Newton in the game. The Falcons still have a lot of offensive talent to account for. The combo of Matt Ryan to Julio Jones will be a huge part of this game. The Falcons defense will keep staying on focus as they will have to plan against Taylor Heinicke. Christian McCaffrey will probably see a huger workload.
Buffalo (5-9) @ New England (9-5) (CBS): TW: Patriots, CV: Patriots
The Bills got a win against the Lions and the Patriots lost to the Steelers last week. The Patriots will need to get a win to remain in the hunt for a 1st round bye. I feel a trouncing of the Bills will keep the Patriot faithful happy. The key in the game is how well Josh Allen will be against a Patriots defense that has shown some lackluster play against the run.
Chicago (10-4) @ San Francisco (4-10) (FOX): TW: Bears, CV: Bears
The Bears beat the Packers and the 49ers beat the Seahawks last week. The game will come down to who will play better in the passing game. Both teams have solid players at running back and can come up clutch on defense. I like the Bears in the game as they have offensive players that can make drives long and can keep Nick Mullens off his game.
LA Rams (11-3) @ Arizona (3-11) (FOX): TW: Rams, CV: Rams
The two teams took losses last week as the Rams lost to the Eagles and the Cardinals to the Falcons. The game really looks like a mismatch on paper but the Rams have shown some signs of slowing down. The key to the game will depend on which Rams team shows up to play. I can't trust the Cardinals enough to pull off one of the huger upsets this week. Go Rams!
Pittsburgh (8-5-1) @ New Orleans (12-2) (CBS): TW: Saints, CV: Saints
The two teams got a win last week as the Steelers beat the Patriots and the Saints beat the Panthers. The marquee game of the week will be the Steelers visiting the Big Easy against the Saints. The game will come down to if how well the Steelers offense can keep the Saints defense on the field. That will mean how well the pass and run game can keep them on the field. Jaylen Samuels will need to play well to give his team a chance to win. The Superdome crowd will be pretty loud and hostile as well. I can't trust the Steelers to get a win in there.
Kansas City (11-3) @ Seattle (8-6) (NBC): TW: Chiefs, CV: Chiefs
Both teams took a loss last week as the Chiefs lost to the Chargers and the Seahawks lost to the 49ers. The game will depend on if the Chiefs can hold a lead as well as keeping their foot on the gas. The Seahawks are still a possible playoff team and will need to maintain their focus. I still like the Chiefs in that they have a good offense and can put up points quite easily.
Denver (6-8) @ Oakland (3-11) (ESPN): TW: Broncos, CV: Broncos
Both teams took losses last week as the Broncos lost to the Browns and the Raiders to the Bengals. The game will depend on how well the passing game of the Broncos will be. The Broncos running attack will have a good day, I feel. The Broncos could win as they still have a solid play on defense. I can't trust the Raiders to pick them after all the pain they've caused me all season. Could also be the last game played in Oakland.
Local TV Schedule (courtesy of 506sports.com, subject to change):
CBS Early:
Houston @ Philadelphia
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
Pittsburgh @ New Orleans
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Single:
Minnesota @ Detroit
Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston
For more info on which game is being played in your area, check out: NFL 2018: Week 16 Maps
Records:
Tom (me)
2018:
Week 1: 10-5-1
Week 2: 6-9-1
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 12-3
Week 5: 6-9
Week 6: 10-5
Week 7: 10-4
Week 8: 11-3
Week 9: 9-4
Week 10: 7-7
Week 11: 8-5
Week 12: 11-4
Week 13: 10-6
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 8-8
Overall: 133-89-2
Cardinal Viking
2018:
Week 1: 8-7-1
Week 2: 9-6-1
Week 3: 5-11
Week 4: 9-6
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 6-9
Week 7: 12-2
Week 8: 10-4
Week 9: 8-5
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 7-6
Week 12: 13-2
Week 13: 11-5
Week 14: 7-9
Week 15: 10-6
Overall: 133-89-2
Sorry for the late post, I had planned on putting this up earlier in the week but I realized the games were on Saturday. I'll see you guys on Wednesday for the recap column as the Christmas holiday will surely be busy.
-Tom
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